Most of the wineries we visited had a $10 tasting fee that was waived with purchase. No one minded if we split a tasting and more often than not we also had a chance to try a few extra unlisted bottles that were open behind the counter.
Friday
Novelty Hill Januik – As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, we realized that we had been here before but it had been several years. On this visit Eric tried the Sauvignon Blanc, Rousanne, Rose, and Riesling. I sampled a few of the reds, one from each section of their tasting list: Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a Sangiovese. The wines were OK, but the tasting fee waiver was the highest we saw on this trip, with a three bottle purchase needed to cover one $10 tasting fee.
Efeste – We had a great tasting here, so much so that we ended up joining the wine club! Our wine pourer was the owner himself and as we got chatting about the wine, he started giving us samples of various bottles open behind the counter. Afterwards, we even sat down and chatted in an otherwise empty tasting room because the rain had scared all the locals away. Their loss! Our pours: Lola Chardonnay (little oak, big mineral-ness), 2013 Evergreen Riesling (lemon zest with minerals), 2013 Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc (drinks like a Chardonnay, rich & full), 2011 Nana Bordeaux Blend (tobacco & fruit), 2011 Ceidleigh Syrah (evergreen & black pepper), 2011 Upright Merlot (berries, chocolate, tasty) 2011 Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon (chewy & big), 2014 Old Field Estate Rose (strawberry) and Final Final Red (big & fruity). Definitely recommended.
Elevation Cellars – We had a quick tasting here and found the wines to be just okay. Unfortunately they didn’t have their flagship Riesling open for tasting. Our pours: 2014 Sauvignon Blanc (raisin, honey-melon), 2011 Jammin’ (‘pizza wine’), 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (dry, high tannins), 2011 Merlot (fruity w/ a bite), 2010 Monolith (inky, rich & fruity).
Saturday
Sparkman Cellars – We were a bit disappointed in our tasting here. Parking was difficult but we found an opening around the corner. The tasting room itself was relatively quiet, with an odd selection of country music playing. More importantly though, the wine just didn’t impress us, as we found it priced quite high compared the flavor. We asked for a quick try of the Riesling since it was open and that was the bottle we wound up getting to offset the $10 tasting fee. Our pours: 2014 Apparition (dry and mineraly), 2013 Wilderness (brown sugar, light pepper), 2012 Ruby Leigh (violets!), 2013 Holler Cabernet (fruity but ordinary), 2013 Darkness Syrah (inky black, mild sweetness), 2014 Birdie Riesling (light & flinty).
Ancestry Cellars – I knew this place had a few more whites to choose from so we headed here next. It’s a small tasting room shared with another winery and the winemaker/owner was pouring our tasting for us. Our choices: 2014 Rejouissant Savignon Blanc (balanced, some acid), 2014 Reunion Chardonnay (clean, a bit nutty), 2014 Le Cortege Chenin Blanc (light peach, apricot, lemon), 2013 Reminiscence Riesling (German nose, peach, medium sweet), 2012 Di Donato Sangiovese (dry & spicy), 2011 La Soer (violet & tobacco, 2012 Le Frere (fruity, semi-dry), 2011 Reserve Cabernet (brown sugar and fruit). We really enjoyed out tasting here, definitely recommended.
Davenport Cellars – Once again, the owners were working the counter here, and we enjoyed our conversations with them. Of note was the Fume Blanc taste comparison – Leandra preferred the creamier 2012, Eric the more acidic 2013. So good that we returned for a glass each as our final stop on Sunday (along with some Seattle Seahawks on the TV). Our choices: 2013 Meritage Blanc (medium acidity, some mineral-ness), 2012 & 2013 Fume Blanc (2012 was creamy w/ coconut; 2013 was crisp and tropical), 2012 Zinfindel (fruit & spice, brown sugar), 2010 R.D.H. (pepper & tart cherry). Additionally, the winemaker recommended J&A’s across the parking lot, so Eric scooted out to give them a try while I went on to the reds.
J & A’s Winery – I eventually joined Eric at J&A’s (just when the rose was being poured because my timing is good like that). He was really impressed with the whites on offer and I enjoyed the Tempranillo. After discovering they could track down a cardboard shipper for us, we wound up buying 9 bottles, rounded out by Venture Cellars (below). Our pours: 2012 Sirius Sipper (tropical & crisp), 2013 Roussanne (white peach, pineapple, star fruit), 2014 First Blush (strawberry & passion fruit), 2011 Riesling (earthy), 2014 Chardonnay (nice fruit).
Venture Cellars – Sharing the space with J&A’s, we tried their lineup and really liked what they were doing too. I don’t have tasting notes for this round but we did leave with two bottles of the 2013 Chardonnay and one bottle of the 2010 Barrel 72 (red).
The owners/winemakers for both J&A’s and Venture were very gracious to stay past their normal closing, and we heartily recommend a visit to their operations.
Sunday
Laura Ashton Cellars – Nice tasting room with a view of courtyard (and fall color). We decided to split a Reserve Tasting for $10 (waived with a $30 purchase). Our choices: 2013 Riesling (pineapple, light mineral-ness), 2013 Roussane (zesty w/ good acidity), 2012 Semillon (good richness and honeysuckle), 2011 Cuvee Estelle (black currants, very aromatic), and 2011 Reserve Syrah (black pepper and herbal lavender).
Gard Vintners – Our pourer at Laura Ashton gave us a free tasting card for Gard, so we headed there next. The main focus of the tasting room was the big screen showing the Seattle NFL game but the wines were enjoyable too. Our pours: 2014 Freya (apple & cinnamon), 2013 Viognier (clean, mildly floral), 2013 Pinot Gris (creamy, good value at $14), 2012 Grand Klasse Riesling (oak, white peach, dry), 2012 Grand Klasse Pinot Gris (oak, pineapple, flinty), 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (dry, pepper), 2012 Vaucluse Red Rhone Blend (rich & fruity), 2012 Malbec (dark fruit & leather).
Locust Cider – Located next door to Gard, we decided to take a break from wine and try some cider. We choose a tasting tray of four options: Original dry, Dark Cherry, Thai Ginger, and the Aged Washington Dessert apple ciders. My favorite was definitely the Thai ginger as I thought the original was too light. Eric liked the aged cider best.
